More than 500 trees have
been wrapped with yellow ribbons in Coconut Grove. City Hall has been
flooded with phone calls asking if the yellow ribbons mean that the
trees are slated for removal. The answer is definitely “no.”
But something just as important as our beautiful tree canopy is hanging
by a thread.
The yellow ribbons are
our reminder to show up at the Coconut Grove Playhouse on Monday,
April 2 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The apparent death of the Coconut Grove
Playhouse is an open wound that may soon become a mortal blow unless
we do something about it.
“Coconut Grove has
suffered economically on each and every one of the 2,129 consecutive
days and nights the theater has remained dark, useless and empty,”
says David Collins, Executive Director of the Coconut Grove Business
Improvement District. “It has had a massively negative impact.
The Grove has been shot through the economic heart with this Playhouse
arrow.”
Nathan Kurland, Grove resident,
professional actor, and member of the Village of Center Grove Neighborhood
Association, is the leader of the group demanding the return of the
theater. Other members of the community-based steering committee are:
Sue McConnell, Cecilia Gill, Joyce Nelson, Teresa Sarnoff, Mel Meinhardt,
M. Peggy Quattro, Kitty Harring, and David Collins. “Give It
Back,” says Kurland, “The time has come for action. If
we are ever going to have a chance to bring back the Playhouse, then
the people of Coconut Grove must once again gather together and stand
up for our community. In terms of our future here, this is the big
banana.”
This Give It Back gathering
will take place on Monday, April 2 at the Playhouse from 5:30 to 6:30
p.m. Everyone is encouraged to attend, and bring a friend. Planners
hope to attract more than 1,000 people to the Coconut Grove Playhouse
Parking Lot. The crowd will consist of Coconut Grove residents, families,
students, business owners, property owners, and theater lovers who
are fed up with the lack of action by the Playhouse Board. “We
need the Grove to show up and give their support” says Sue McConnell,
President of the Village of Center Grove Neighborhood Association
and a Board Member of the Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce. She adds,
“That’s what the Grove does best. It’s time again.”
“This is probably
the very last moment we can take action if there is ever again to
be a vibrant, living Playhouse here,” says Kurland, “This
is an election year. We need to speak to the powers that be and say
very clearly. Give It Back!
The Playhouse has been
held hostage for nearly six years by a self-interested Board of Directors
that has not held an official Board meeting in several years.
Grove civic leader Mel
Meinhardt points out, “The long-vacant Coconut Grove Playhouse
has become an increasing haven for drug abuse, a civic and business
eyesore, a target of mounting vandalism and an ever-growing drain
on precious public safety resources.”
To celebrate this moment
of freedom, the residents of Coconut Grove will wrap hundreds of trees
with joyous yellow ribbons throughout the Grove. Yellow wristbands,
buttons and armbands will be worn. “We are tired of being ignored
by the irresponsible people who own the Playhouse,” says Kurland.
“We call upon City,
County and State leaders to take action to resolve the ever-worsening
situation of the vacant Coconut Grove Playhouse quickly and cooperatively,”
says Meinhardt.
Among politicians who will
be invited to the Give It Back April 2 gathering will be Miami-Dade
Mayor Carlos Gimenez, County Commissioner Xavier Suarez, Miami Mayor
Thomas Regalado, City Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, and State Representative
Carlos Lopez-Cantera.
The Playhouse Board of
Directors was freely given and accepted official ownership and responsibility
for the Coconut Grove Playhouse in 2004 by the State of Florida. There
was only one condition required in return for the gift by the State:
The Playhouse Board of Directors must continue to present live theater
in the revered landmark or they would lose ownership. With an estimated
operating deficit of 4.3 million dollars, the Board closed the Playhouse
on May 12, 2006 and it has remained closed and crumbling for six dark
years since then.
“Give It Back to
the arts,” says Mel Meinhardt, “Give It Back to heritage,
Give It Back to community, Give It Back to our children, Give It Back
to business vitality, Give It Back to Miami, and, for heaven’s
sake, let’s Give It Back to Coconut Grove.”
Be at the Playhouse on
Monday, April 2, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Bring a friend.
This is a public call to
action. Now is the time.
For more information: www.facebook.com/giveitback4
Email giveitback4@gmail.com
